2022 Impact Report
A Letter from Board Chair
Shelly Schoenfeld
The Plus Collective Board
Having turned the page on 2022, it’s the perfect time to reflect on accomplishments and explore what’s possible for a vibrant future.
Most of us can agree, there have been many peaks and valleys over the last few years. One of those peaks has been the ongoing strength of The Plus Collective and our ability to continue to support, amplify and launch the work of local LGBTQ+ organizations.
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Shelly’s letter continues…
Understanding the challenges the pandemic brought to non-profit organizations, we continued solely funding unrestricted operating grants to LGBTQ+ non-profit organizations again in 2022. We did this to ensure we did our part to support their ongoing viability, granting a total of $135,000. This amount is in keeping with prior years’ total grants, meaning we continued providing more operational support than ever before!
We also embarked on reimagining our annual luncheon, The Happening, into multiple events to celebrate our grant recipients and our community. We held The Celebration in June where we announced our 2022 grantees. And then in August, we partnered with a number of other LGBTQ+ organizations to relaunch Pride in the Sky to continue celebrating the legacy of our friend Dan Mauney and his passion for bringing our community together.
As we move into 2023, I’m excited for what’s to come for The Plus Collective.
With our community’s LGBTQ+ organizations back to performing and operating as business as usual, we will be bringing back our project, program and event grants this year. The majority of our funding will continue to support operating grants – just as it did prior to the pandemic – but we thought it important to recommit ourselves to our broader mission of inclusivity and again fund the great work that ally organizations are doing in and for our LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to our expanded grant program, we will also celebrate our 20th year in existence! Our founders clearly saw the need our community had for our funding model and funneling support to organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community. And that need hasn’t changed - and likely won’t change - as less than one half of one percent nationally of all philanthropic funding goes to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ communities. So, in addition to our annual grant making, we will also look to grow our endowment fund to continue doing our part to ensure the long-term viability of our LGBTQ+ community. Stay tuned for more to come!
We are immensely grateful for everyone who has joined us on this journey. Thank you to our donors, sponsors and community partners who recognize the importance of the LGBTQ+ organizations on the ground here in Charlotte, doing the critical work.
Collectively we are building a community where everyone is treated with equal dignity and respect.
With gratitude,
Shelly Schoenfeld
Board Chair, The Plus Collective
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
One Voice Chorus
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“Over the last year, OVC focused on engaging with our whole community, including supporting local LGBTQIA+ organizations such as Transcend, Charlotte Black Pride, and PFLAG. Thanks to the Change Network, we have concentrated our internal and external DEAIJ efforts to engage with all members of the local community – celebrating differences instead of claiming to be blind to them. In addition, OVC brought our message to a traditionally exclusionary audience, as we served with honor and distinction as the first LGBTQIA+ chorus invited to participate in the NC American Choral Directors Association convention this fall.”
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Our work in the community at large has yielded an influx of diverse new members – myriad ages, races, and gender expressions. This mosaic of members creates a strong intergenerational and intersectional bond, strengthening both the organization and our community for the challenges to come.
This past year we had the privilege of presenting a piece co-commissioned with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus: the SATB world premiere of "Songs of the Phoenix,” a work presenting narratives and music from composers and lyricists from an enormous range of backgrounds, and providing us the opportunity to be mindful about how and why we do what we do. One movement in particular prompted conversations both within our organization and with other local LGBTQIA+ voices and POC to decide how best to present a work with challenging and potentially inflammatory material.
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As we emerge from the dark shadow of COVID (a journey far from over), we are thrilled to fortify our organization’s foundations for the long term by adding more staff, including an Executive Director and a professional bookkeeper. Our work in the DEAIJ arena has solid footing through a Change Plan with concrete and ambitious goals that maintain and augment our engagement with the greater community. Additionally, our board works diligently to increase our strategic planning, setting goals with larger scopes for the next one to five years.
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The support of The Plus Collective means the world to us. It's validating knowing that we can continue to work toward our mission no matter what. Knowing that we have the backing and trust of the Collective gives us the flexibility to explore creative ways of meeting our mission. It gives us the space to learn and grow in service to our community.
One Voice
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte has reached more people than ever – more than 32,000 – with our message of inclusion and equality. GMCC initiated a new ensemble, the Women’s Chorus of Charlotte. This new choir has already grown to 50 singers, and will present their second concert series November 11 and 12. We presented a full season of four live performances, our first full season since the COVID lockdown in March 2020.”
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The Gay Men’s Chorus was invited to sing the national anthem for the Charlotte Football Club’s first-ever Pride Night. We performed to a sold-out stadium over 30,000 people.
Our newest ensemble, the Women’s Chorus of Charlotte, is the most diverse singing ensemble in Charlotte. We now have over 110 active singers.
The organization (GMCC and WCC) has more than quadrupled our singing membership, and will present their fourth live concert series since the COVID lockdown. .
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We are collaborating with Carolina Voices to bring one of America’s most notable composers, Dan Forrest, to Charlotte for a series of public workshops, masterclasses, and performances in January, 2023. Mr. Forrest’s music is of appealing to community, collegiate, and church ensembles, and this is the first time he will be in Charlotte.
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte and our new ensemble, the Women’s Chorus of Charlotte, will combine to perform Craig Hella Johnson’s “Considering Matthew Shepard: A Choral Suite” in March, 2023, in observance of the 25th anniversary of Matthew Shepard’s death.
We are excited to bring together the small ensembles of GMCC, WCC, One Voice, and the Charlotte Pride Band for our first joint performance in June, 2023.
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The Plus Collective’s support has literally made GMCC possible. The Collective’s unrestricted operating support gives GMCC the opportunity to focus on what we do – changing the world one heart and mind at a time.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
Time Out Youth
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“In 2022, Time Out Youth expanded our abilities to offer free mental health counseling, as well as housing and employment case management to LGBTQ youth in our community. We also provide emergency financial assistance and support to assist LGBTQ youth as they attain housing. Additionally, through our collaboration with OnRamp, we have developed a partnership which provides Time Out Youth with the oversight of a 4-bedroom house for LGBTQ youth experiencing housing instability.”
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The past year was a year of transition and growth for Time Out Youth and we are proud of the work we have done to meet the needs of LGBTQ youth in our community. Time Out Youth is made up of a team of passionate people who work to adapt our programs and services to remain relevant and accessible to LGBTQ youth. The addition of new team members to support our work and the relaunching of our in-person programming were moments we cherish from 2022.
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Time Out Youth is excited for more opportunities to expand our impact in 2023 through growing our team and cultivating strategic and impactful partnerships with other community organizations. Over the past year we have seen a continued rise youth accessing our programming and services and in 2023 we intend to expand our case management and clinical services to further address issues impacting LGBTQ youth in our community. We're also excited to cultivate and provide even more in-person and virtual programming for LGBTQ youth.
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The Plus Collective has long been a supporter of the work at Time Out Youth. Their commitment to nurturing the growth and development of LGBTQ organizations like ours in the community serves to promote the health and wellness of LGBTQ people in Charlotte. Knowing that we have consistent and sustained support from foundations like The Plus Collective.
Time Out Youth
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
Charlotte Pride Band
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“With more members than ever, the Charlotte Pride Band performed six, full-length concerts and participated in 14 community events over the past year. Through our musical performances, we reached more people than in any prior year to promote the value and respect of LGBTQIA+ people in the Charlotte metropolitan area.”
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The Charlotte Pride Band is particularly proud of the growth in our membership numbers and the quality of our musical performances. Onward and upward!
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The Charlotte Pride Band is excited to perform a concert in the new, state-of-the-art auditorium at Central Piedmont Community College's Uptown Campus on March 18, 2023.
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The Plus Collective has been a lifeline for the Charlotte Pride Band for the past 12 years. Without grant funding, we seriously doubt we would not be operational today as running a band organization is expensive. We are proud to be an operations support grant recipient from The Plus Collective and will continue to strive to fulfill our mission!
Charlotte Pride Band
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
Transcend Charlotte
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“In June of 2021 we launched a three-month program series titled, Sacred Summer, where we celebrated with community members the sacred identities that are gender diverse folx. Through this series we provided free mental & physical health programming and resources such as yoga classes, COVID-19 vaccines, clothing, job fairs, haircuts & wigs, massages and more.”
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Combining the expertise of CCP in the areas of housing, health and mental health services and Transcend’s expertise in policy, advocacy and gender diverse programming, we have reached unbelievable milestones in only 6 months. For example, in October 2022, we became the first entity to successfully include an application for housing subsidies dedicated to LGBTQ+ communities in the Mecklenburg county annual HUD proposal. Along with this, we were able to partner with Mecklenburg County COC to adapt coordinated entry intake forms to now include indicators of LGBTQ+ identity. In this way, data will now be collected at the county level on the need for services and barriers to access by LGBTQ+ communities.
Through the Life Center we are able to offer LGBTQ+ communities (a majority of whom are BIPOC) and people living with HIV the following services:
Clinical counseling
Housing subsidies & support
Job support
Formal case management
Peer support groups
Online peer support platforms
The Xpression Space: a boutique with free clothing, accessories, makeup, and specialty items
Corporate and community outreach and education
Festivals and events (e.g., community resource fairs (Mini Markets), Pride, TDOV, TDOR and others)
Policy and advocacy in NC
Name Change Workshops
Food Pantry
Hygiene Closet
Transportation vouchers
In-house, point of care HIV, syphilis & HepC testing and linkage to care
Substance use support
Computer Lab
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In Spring of 2023, the LGBTQ+ Life Center (inclusive of Transcend Charlotte) will launch a drop-in model for folx 18+. This will allow folx to access our resources including, but not limited to: food pantry, hygiene closet, Xpression Space, computer lab, HIV/syphilis/HepC testing, games, social support, and more.
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NEW TEXT? At Transcend we dearly value partnership and collaboration. We are stronger together and we appreciate that the Plus Collective is part of our journey and certainly one of the partners that makes us stronger!
Transcend
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
PFLAG Charlotte
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“Approximately 600 individuals were served through PFLAG Charlotte’s peer support offerings (in-person, online, and family connections events). Why does this matter? Because rarely do folks show up to a peer support experience without fear or hesitation. Many come to us emotionally overwhelmed by a world that doesn’t celebrate or even support their loved one. By expanding our peer support offerings, we meet people where they are, often in new and different spaces. Leading with love, we walk with them on their own journey to acceptance, allyship, and, for some, advocacy.”
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In addition to expanded peer support offerings, PFLAG Charlotte hosted thirty educational workshops and spoke at another eleven panels and conferences. Through these efforts, over 1500 area professionals (in the workplace, healthcare, schools, faith, and senior living communities) better understand challenges facing many LGBTQ+ individuals and have a heightened awareness of how individuals and organizations can foster LGBTQ+ equity, inclusion, and belonging within their organizations. When asked to comment on the most impactful portion of a PFLAG workshop, an area educator responded “The case studies, group work, and sharing (and) the speakers sharing their personal stories and journeys as both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. Thank you for your honesty, openness, and bravery! “
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The additions of both a part-time Operations Manager and Chapter Coordinator, along with a part-time social work intern, are significant steps forward in our efforts to grow PFLAG Charlotte’s organizational capacity. We look forward to:
expanding collaborative peer support efforts to better meet the needs of underserved
populations, including communities of color
elevating educational programming content and processes to include customized
learning objectives, more interactive content, action planning component, and follow-up strategies
bolstering school outreach collaborations to increase parental support and reduce
bullying and suicide
broadening our community partnerships
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“Collective strength is the force to make the impossible happen.”
—Mohammed Zaid
PFLAG Charlotte simply would not be where we are today without the steadfast and cumulative support of the Plus Collective.The Plus Collective has given our tiny organization the capacity to be mighty. It is with the deepest gratitude that we say Thank you!
PFLAG Charlotte
THE PLUS COLLECTIVE GRANTEE
Twirl to the World Foundation
A 2022 Moment of Impact
“To date, we've provided direct financial assistance to 120+ individuals with groceries, medical, and transportation assistance and have approved and additional 83 individuals for paid mental healthcare, amounting to over 1,000 hours!”
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Besides the numbers and demographics of local LGBTQ+ people we are helping, we've also expanded our community outreach and increased access to resources by completely translating our TAP application into Spanish, making it dual language. We've also connected with more organizations, like Charlotte LGBTQ+ Elders, and will be providing Thanksgiving meals to shut-in seniors.
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Two-fold: Establishing a year-round "Twirl Social" calendar that fosters connection through a variety of activities and events. Also, continuing and extending TAP where it makes sense and has the most impact on our Charlotte LGBTQ+ community.
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We believe strongly in the Plus Collective’s community efforts because their goals align with Our mission - to bring relief, stability, and joy to the world through social advocacy and hardship assistance for the LGBTQ+ community. Without the Plus Collective’s generous support this past year, we would not have been able to expand our operational expenses through various marketing, advertising, social platforms, etc.
Grantmaking Over the Years
